Charged GBH
Encyclopedia
Charged GBH are an English
Street punk
band, formed in 1978
by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk
, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge
, Broken Bones
, The Exploited
and The Varukers
. They have gone on to influence several punk rock musicians. The name GBH was inspired by then-bassist Sean McCarthy's trial for grievous bodily harm
. 1982 saw GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats
. Lyrically, the album dealt with criticism of British and European culture, violence
, morbidity (especially in reference to the song "Passenger On The Menu", which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571
), atheism
, nihilism
and humour. Musically, the album was loud and fast, with few songs exceeding three minutes. In 1984 the band changed their name to GBH (grievous bodily harm
).
Unlike some early punk bands that evolved towards other styles, GBH have stayed fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. Their peers like The Exploited, Picture Frame Seduction, Discharge and The Varukers have all enjoyed resounding success in the USA and fit the genre' UK82 punk rock. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more speed metal
-inflected sound, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped
, although they have since returned to a more purist
punk sound. The band is still active and touring and maintain a strong following both in England and the rest of Europe
, as well as in United States
and Japan
.
In 2010 the band released their new Cd called Perfume And Piss
Splits
Studio albums
EPs/singles/box sets
Compilations & live albums
DVDs & videos
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Street punk
Street punk
Street punk is a working class-based genre of punk rock which took shape in the early 1980s, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the Oi! style, performed by bands such as Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, Cockney...
band, formed in 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk
Street punk
Street punk is a working class-based genre of punk rock which took shape in the early 1980s, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the Oi! style, performed by bands such as Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, Cockney...
, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
, Broken Bones
Broken Bones
Broken Bones are a Hardcore punk band with a distinct sound that is heavily influenced by other UKHC punk bands such as Discharge, and in later cases, crossover thrash.-Career:...
, The Exploited
The Exploited
The Exploited are a Scottish punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on they changed into a crossover thrash band...
and The Varukers
The Varukers
The Varukers are a UK D-beat band formed in 1979 by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk band Discharge, known as D-beat...
. They have gone on to influence several punk rock musicians. The name GBH was inspired by then-bassist Sean McCarthy's trial for grievous bodily harm
Biography
Charged GBH embarked on several English and mainland US tours during the early 1980s, including several gigs at the 100 Club100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
. 1982 saw GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats
City Baby Attacked By Rats
City Baby Attacked By Rats is the debut LP of the band Charged GBH. It is considered a landmark in the development of hardcore punk, especially the UK 82 scene.-Track listing:# "Time Bomb" - 2:26# "Sick Boy" - 2:32# "Wardogs" - 1:29# "Slut" - 2:32...
. Lyrically, the album dealt with criticism of British and European culture, violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, morbidity (especially in reference to the song "Passenger On The Menu", which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, also known as the Andes flight disaster, and in South America as Miracle in the Andes was a chartered flight carrying 45 people, including a rugby team, their friends, family and associates that crashed in the Andes on October 13, 1972...
), atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
and humour. Musically, the album was loud and fast, with few songs exceeding three minutes. In 1984 the band changed their name to GBH (grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861....
).
Unlike some early punk bands that evolved towards other styles, GBH have stayed fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. Their peers like The Exploited, Picture Frame Seduction, Discharge and The Varukers have all enjoyed resounding success in the USA and fit the genre' UK82 punk rock. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
-inflected sound, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped
Church of the Truly Warped
Church of the Truly Warped is the 7th studio album by Charged GBH released in 1992. It was reissued in 2006 with 3 bonus tracks.-Track listing:# "Pure Greed"# "Not Enough Hate"# "Leather Coffin"# "Candy Man"# "Lords Of Discipline"...
, although they have since returned to a more purist
Purist
A purist is one who desires that an item remains true to its essence and free from adulterating or diluting influences. The term may be used in almost any field, and can be applied either to the self or to others. Use of the term may be either pejorative or complimentary, depending on the context...
punk sound. The band is still active and touring and maintain a strong following both in England and the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, as well as in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In 2010 the band released their new Cd called Perfume And Piss
Discography
Demos| Year of release | Title |
| 1980 | 1980 Demo |
| 1980 | Practice 1980 |
Splits
| Year of release | Title | Featuring | Label |
| 1998 | Punk As Fuck | Billyclub | Idol |
| 2001 | Punk Rock Ambulance | Billyclub | Idol |
Studio albums
| Year of release | Title | Label |
| 1982 | City Baby Attacked By Rats City Baby Attacked By Rats City Baby Attacked By Rats is the debut LP of the band Charged GBH. It is considered a landmark in the development of hardcore punk, especially the UK 82 scene.-Track listing:# "Time Bomb" - 2:26# "Sick Boy" - 2:32# "Wardogs" - 1:29# "Slut" - 2:32... |
Clay |
| 1983 | City Babys Revenge City Babys Revenge City Baby's Revenge is the second studio album released by British hardcore punk band Charged GBH. The album's title is a response to the band's 1982 debut album, City Baby Attacked By Rats. It was released under record label Captain Oi! in 1984.... |
Clay |
| 1986 | Midnight Madness And Beyond | Captain Oi! Captain Oi! Records Captain Oi! is a punk rock and Oi! record label based in High Wycombe, England. The company has released over 300 albums by many notable punk and Oi! bands of the late 1970s and 1980s. The label was set up by Mark Brennan, former bassist of The Business, who had previously co-run Link Records and... |
| 1987 | No Need To Panic | Captain Oi! |
| 1989 | A Fridge Too Far | Captain Oi! |
| 1990 | From Here To Reality | Captain Oi! |
| 1992 | Church of the Truly Warped Church of the Truly Warped Church of the Truly Warped is the 7th studio album by Charged GBH released in 1992. It was reissued in 2006 with 3 bonus tracks.-Track listing:# "Pure Greed"# "Not Enough Hate"# "Leather Coffin"# "Candy Man"# "Lords Of Discipline"... |
Captain Oi! |
| 1996 | Punk Junkies | SOS |
| 2002 | Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha is the 9th studio album by Charged GBH released in 2002 on Go-Kart.-Track listing:# "Ha Ha"# "Falling Down"# "Crush 'Em"# "I Want To Believe"# "Song For Cathy"# "Sado Methodist"# "The Unexpected"# "Belgrade"# "The Power of One"... |
Go Kart |
| 2004 | Cruel and Unusual | Idol |
| 2010 | Perfume and Piss Perfume and Piss Perfume and Piss is the eleventh studio album released by the punk rock band Charged GBH. A song is available on their myspace since the last week of February, "Kids Get Down".-Track listing:... |
Hellcat Hellcat Records Hellcat Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz carp Bad Religion, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of whom is generally responsible for... |
EPs/singles/box sets
| Year of release | Title | Label |
| 1981 | Leather, Bristles, Studs, And Acne | Clay |
| 1982 | Sick Boy | Clay |
| 1982 | No Survivors | Clay |
| 1982 | Give Me Fire / Man Trap | Clay |
| 1983 | Catch 23 / Hellhole | Clay |
| 1984 | Do What You Do | Clay |
| 1986 | Oh No, It's GBH Again | Clay |
| 1988 | Wot A Bargain | Captain Oi! |
| 2004 | Cruel and Unusual | Idol |
| 2007 | Race Against Time: The Complete Clay Recordings | Castle |
Compilations & live albums
| Year of release | Title | Label |
| 1982 | Punk And Disorderly | Abstract/Posh Boy |
| 1982 | Leather, Bristles, No Survivors & Sick Boys | Clay |
| 1986 | Clay Years 1981-1984 | Clay |
| 1989 | No Survivors '83 | Clay |
| 1990 | The Clay Years - 1981-84 | Clay |
| 1992 | The Clay Recordings | Clay |
| 1993 | Live In Japan | Anagram |
| 1995 | The Clay Punk Singles Collection | Clay |
| 1996 | Celebrity Live Style | Cleopatra |
| 1999 | Punk Rock Hits | Cleopatra |
| 1999 | Live In Los Angeles | Anagram |
| 2002 | The Punk Singles 1981-84 | Castle |
| 2005 | Dead on Arrival: A Punk Rock Anthology | Sanctuary |
DVDs & videos
| Year of Release | Title |
| 1983 | Live At Victoria Hall, Hanley |
| 1995 | Kawasaki Live |
| 1996 | Live in L.A. 1988 |
| 2003 | Live at the Ace, Brixton |
| 2004 | Kawasaki Live/Brit Boys Attacked by Brats |
| 2005 | G.B.H. Live in LA/Live at Victoria |
| 2006 | Charged: On Stage |